Actress Ruth Wallis dies at 87

Known for naughty musical numbers

Ruth Wallis, whose naughty musical numbers between the 1940s and 1960s inspired the musical revue, “Boobs! The Musical,” died of Alzheimer’s-related causes Dec. 22 in Wallingford, Conn. She was 87.

She sang in the Isham Jones and Benny Goodman orchestras and became known as a risqué singer during the 1950s. Some of her songs were banned from radio, and her records were confiscated by Australian customs during the 60s.

She made 10 comedy albums and appeared in Las Vegas, Miami and in Australia, London and New Zealand. Among her more than 150 songs were “The Dinghy Song,” which sold 250,000 copies.

Shortly after her 83rd birthday, “Boobs ! The Musical” (subtitled: The World According to Ruth Wallis) opened at the Triad Theater in New York and later transferred to Dillion’s. The musical ran for nearly 300 performances with subsequent runs in New Orleans and Wichita.